The Terminator

Feature, The Key Moment? | September 23, 2011 12:01 am

By Chris Wale

During the 1991 World Cup when he was playing for Samoa, Apollo Perelini earned the nickname ‘Terminator’ because of his hard tack-les. So it might be surprising to hear that he is a Christian. It might be even more surprising to hear what Perelini has to say about being a Christian
rugby player.

“There’s nothing wrong with being an aggressive player. You can play as hard as anyone else but
within the rules. After all, many of God’s greatest men have been warriors.” “Christians aren’t wimps,”
he continues. “When you get a reputation, everyone tries to pull you down. There’s nothing wrong with
that. It keeps me on my toes; keeps me honest.”

However important physical strength is to the big Samoan, more important is his trust in God. “It’s
the most important part of my life,” he says. “It’s what gets me through every day.”

Being a follower of Jesus is not about being a pushover or playing rugby politely. It’s about
trusting God and valuing His infinite strength much more highly than our own strength. The Bible tells
us that He is a “fortress” and a “refuge” for those who rely on Him (Psalm 91:2). This is where real
strength lies. When we rely on Him rather than our-selves, God is powerfully able to guide us through
whatever we may face in life.

“This I declare about the Lord: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust him.” – Psalm 91:2

1 Comment

  1. Renny says:

    Amen!!!

    Reply

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